MINUTES  OF  THE 
Galloivay  Primitive  Baptist  Association, 

At  its  first  Session  held  at  Bethlehem  meeting  house,  in  Edgefield  District,  S.  C. 
on  Friday  the  I4thqf  January,  1842. 


Whereas,  a  few  of  the  churches  have 
separated  themselves  from  the  missionary 
institutions  of  the  clay,  and  have  agreed  to 
form  themselves  into  another  body,  known 
by  the  name  of  the  Galloway  Primitive 
Baptist  Association: — Pursuant  to  appoint- 
ment, delegates  from  said  churches  met  at 
Bethlehem  meeting  house,  on  Friday  be- 
fore the  third  Sunday  in  January,  1S42. 
Brother  Marshal  McGraw  delivered  an  ap- 
propriate introductory  sermon  from  Deu- 
teronomy, 32  ch.  and  verse  9:  For  the 
Lord's  portion  is  his  people;  Jacob  is  the 
lot  of  his  inheritance. 

When  brother  John  Galloway  was  call- 
ed to  the  chair,  and  B.  E.  Clark  chosen 
clerk;  and  the  churches  called  in  the  order 
stated  below.  The  delegates  handed  in 
their  letters,  and  their  names  were  enrolled 
as  follows: 

Churches.        Ministers  <§•  Delegates. 
Mount  Calvary  Lexing-  ~)  J.  S.  Smith, 
J.V.  Sawyer. 


1  ?  J.  Galloway, 
S  C.  Plunket. 
£  G.  Matthews, 
5  B.  E.  Clark. 


ton  district,  23  member 

Water  Pond,  Barnwe 
district,  23  members, 

Bethlehem,  Edgefield 
district,  9  members, 

The  churches  being  assembled,  adopted 
the  following  constitution. 

1  JJrticle.  This  body  shall  be  known  as 
theGal|oway  Primitive  Baptist  Association. 

2  Jlrticle.  The  objects  of  this  Associa- 
tion are,  union  of  the  churches,  the  good 
of  man,  and  the  glory  of  God. 

3  Article.  This  body  shall  be  compos- 
ed of  delegates  from  the  churches  in  the 
following  rates:  each  church  shall  be  enti- 
tled to  two  delegates,  the  appointment  of 
these  delegates  shall  be  signified  by  letter 
from  the  churches,  these  letters  shall  con- 
tain the  number  baptised,  received  by  let- 
ter, restored,  dismissed,  exeommunicated, 
and  dead,  throughout  the  preceding  year, 
with  the  total  number.    Other  churches  of 


the  same  faith  and  order  may  be  admitted 
into  union. 

4  Article.  The  Association  shall  have 
a  Moderator,  clerk,  and  treasurer,  who 
shall  be  chosen  out  of  the  number  of  dele- 
gates by  ballot,  and  continue  in  office  until 
a  new  election  shall  be  made. 

5  Jlrticle.  This  Association  disclaims 
any  authority  over  the  churches.  It  only 
possesses  the  privilege  of  recommending  to 
them  any  measure  that  may  be  thought  pro- 
per for  the  advancement  of  its  objects,  of 
inquiring  into  the  state  of  the  constituent 
members;  &if  it  shall  appear  upon  informa- 
tion, that  any  of  them  have  departed  from 
the  faith  of  the  gospel,  as  set  forth  in  the 
declaration  of  our  faith  in  the  gospel  in  the 
declaration  of  faith  and  practice  appended 
to  this  constitution,  of  withdrawing  from 
any  of  them,  if  after  affectionate  and  gospel 
labor  to  recover  them  from  their  errora 
they  remain  irreclaimable. 

6  Article.  This  Association  may  hold 
correspondence  or  form  connection  with 
any  other  religious  bodies  of  the  same  faith 
and  order,  for  the  promotion  of  its  objects; 
yet  so  as  to  leave  the  churches  that  com- 
pose it  free  to  act  in  the  case  as  they  may 
think  proper. 

7  Jlrticle.  This  Association  shall  have 
power  to  make  by-laws  for  its  government. 

&  Article.  Any  alteration  in  this  con- 
stitution may  be  made  by  a  vote  of  two 
thirds  of  the  members  present  at  a  stated 
meeting;  provided  such  alteration  shall 
have  been  submitted  to  the  churches  for 
their  consideration.  Assigned  by  the  del- 
egates. James  S.  Smith. 

John  V.  Sawyer. 

John  Galloway. 

Charles  Plunket. 

Garrot  Mathews. 

Benjamin  E.  Clark. 
Considering  the  Association  now  form- 
ed, proceeded  to  elect  officers;  and  on  count- 


ing  the  ballots,  it  appeared  brother  John 
Galloway  was  elected  Moderator,  and  B. 
E.  Clark,  clerk.  Brother  Vincent  Bell 
prayed,  when  (he  following  declaration  of 
our  views  of  the  gospel  was  proposed  and 
adopted. 

1st.  We  believe  that  the  scriptures  of 
the  Old  and  New  Testament  contains  the 
revelation  of  God's  will  toman,  and  consti- 
tute the  obligatory  rule  for  man  in  all  his 
relations,  as  a  creaiureand  a  member  of  so- 
ciety. 

2nd.  We  believe  that  the  scriptures  re- 
veal the  existence  of  one  only  living  and 
true  God,  subsisting  in  three  distinct  per- 
sons, known  by  the  name  of  the  Father, 
Son  and  Holy  Spirit;  and  these  three  are 
one  in  essence  possessing  equal  attributes. 

3rd.  We  believe  that  God  who.  made  all 
things  created  man  upright,  but  man  have 
sought  out  many  inventions;  that  all  have 
sinned  and  have  come  short  of  the  glory  of 
God,  and  that  by  the  deeds  of  (he  law  no 
flesh  living  shall  be  justified  before  God. 

4th.  We  believe  that  God  so  loved  the 
world,  that  he  gaye  his  only  begotten  Son, 
that  whosoever  believeth  in  him  should 
not  perish  but  have  eternal  life. 

5th.  We  believe  that  Jesus  Christ,  the 
only  begotten  Son  of  God,  was  made  flesh 
and  that  he  was  born  of  the  Virgin  Mary, 
thathe  suffered,  bled,  died,  was  buried, 
and  rose  again,  and  is  now  at  the  right 
hand  of  his  Father  making  intercession  for 
his  people,  and  will  come  again  a  second 
time  without  a  sin  offering  unto  salvation. 

6:h.  We  believe  that  Jesus  Christ  in 
his  perfect  work  magnified  and  made  hon- 
orable the  d;  vine  law,  became  the  end  of  it 
for  righteousness  to  every  one  that  believ- 
eth, that  God  can  be  just  and  the  justifierj 
of  the  ungodly  thnt  believe  in  Jesus,  and  ! 
that  whosoever  will  may  come  and  take  of 
the  waters  of  life  freely. 

7th.  We  believe  in  the  regeneration  of 
the  soul  by  the  spirit  of  God  in  its  sanctifi- 
cation  by  his  word,  and  in  the  eternal 
glorification  of  soul  and  body  after  thejudg- 
ment  day. 

8th.  We  believe  thattbe  sal vation  of  the 
sinner  is  by  grace  through  faith,  and  not 
of  works. 

9lh.  We  believe  that  good  works  are  to 
be  maintained  for  necessary  purposes, 
since  God  has  before  ordained  that  his  peo- 
ple should  walk  in  them. 

10th.  We  believe  that  all  that  the  Fath- 
er hath  given  the  Son  shall  come  to  him, 
and  will  bs  raised  up  at  the  last  day;  and 


that  those  that  sTeep  in  Jesus,  God  will 
bring  with  him,  that  they  may  be  ever 
with  the  Lord. 

11th.  We  believe,  that  there  will  be  a 
general  resurrection  of  the  dead,  and  a  gen- 
eral judgment,  the  result  of  which  will  be 
a  final  reward  to  all  men  according  to  the 
deeds  done  in  the  body;  and  that  the  wick- 
ed shall  go  away  into  everlasting  punish- 
ment and  the  righteous  into  life  eternal. 

12th.  We  believe  that  the  preaching  of 
the  gospel  is  an  ordinance  of  God,  and 
should  be  liberally  supported  by  his  people. 

13th.  We  believe  that  bapiism  is  an  or- 
dinance of  the  gospel,  and  consists  in  the 
immersion  of  the  body  of  a  sinner  in  wa- 
ter, upon  his  profession  of  faith  in  Christ 
Jesus. 

1 4 1 h.  We  believe  that  it  is  the  duty  of 
all  baptized  believers  to  unite  together  in 
the  church  relation. 

15th.  We  believe  that  Jesus  Christ  has 
instituted  a  church  on  earth,  and  that  sepa- 
rate bodies  of  baptized  believers  in  Christ, 
associated  together  as  local  con  venience  ad- 
mits, upon  the  principles  of  the  gospel  for 
the  worship  of  God  and  mutual  edification 
of  its  members,  are  parts  of  this  church 
and  constitute  churches  of  Christ. 

16th.  We  believe  that  each  of  these 
churches  is  independent  in  point  of  gov- 
ernment of  every  other,  though  they 
should  be  united  in  harmony,  and  love, 
and  in  common  effort  for  mutual  benefit,  of 
the  promotion  of  the  cause  of  God. 

17th.  We  believe  that  the  officers  of 
Christ's  churches  are  bishops  and  deacons; 
by  bishops  we  understand  elders,  pastors, 
having  the  spiritual  charge  of  a  church. 
By  deacons  we  understand  those  that  have 
the  charge  of  the  temporalities  of  the 
church. 

18th.  We  believe,  that  civil  government 
is  an  ordinance  of  God,  and  that  we  should 
give  it  our  support. 

BY-LAWS, 
Or,  Decorum  for  the  Jissocititlon. 
1st.  A  sermon  introductory  to  the  busi- 
ness of  the  Association,  shall  be  delivered 
at  12  o'clock  on  the  first  day  of  each  ses- 
sion, by  a  minister  appointed  at  a  previous 
meeting. 

2nd.  Immediately  after  the  sermon  if 
ended,  the  delegates  shall  assemble  in  some 
convenient  place,  when  the  Moderator,  or 
another  at  his  request,  shall  open  the  meet- 
ing by  prayer. 


3rd.  The  letters  from  the  churches  shall 
be  called  f©r  and  read,  when  the  clerk  shall 
enrol  the  names  of  the  delegates  and  min- 
ute the  state  of  the  churches.  The  names 
of  the  delegates  shall  then  be  called,  and 
the  absentees  marked. 

4th.  If  there  are  any  applications  for  ad- 
mittance into  union,  the  delegates  bearing 
such  applications  shall  present  them,  when 
they  shall  receive  immediate  attention. 

5th.  The  Moderator,|Clerk,  and  Treasu- 
rer, shall  then  be  chosen. 

6ih.  The  constitution,  declaration  of 
faith,  and  rules  for  the  government  of  the 
Associaiion,  shall  then  be  read. 

7th.  Letters  and  messengers  from  cor- 
responding Associations  shall  be  read  and 
received. 

8th.  The  standing  committees  shall  then 
be  appointed  by  the  Moderator,  of  which 
there  shall  be  the  following:  1st.  Commit- 
tee for  the  arrangement  of  preaching.  2nd. 
Committee  of  revision.  3rd.  Committee 
on  the  Treasurer's  account.  4th.  Com- 
mittee on  the  state  of  religion.  5th.  Com- 
mittee on  the  Minutes  of  the  correspon- 
ding Associations. 

9th.  The  Moderator  shall  preside,  keep 
due  order,  state  all  matters  that  are  to  be 
considered  by  the  Association,  ascertain  & 
declare  all  decisions  that  shall  and  may  be 
made.  He  shall  be  the  judge  of  order, 
though  an  appeal  may  be  made  from  his  de- 
cision to  the  body ;  when  he  desires  to  be 
heard,  he  shall  put  some  one  in  his  place 
and  then  he  may  give  his  views. 

10th.  The  clerk  shall  enrol  the  names  of 
the  delegates,  minute  the  state  of  the 
churches,  keep  the  proceedings  of  the  bo- 
dy, and  prepare  a  fair  copy  of  the  whole  of 
each  session  for  the  press. 

llth.  The  Treasurer  shall  take  charge 
of  all  the  moneys  and  specialities  belonging 
to  the  Association,  and  dispose  of\hem  as 
the  Association  shall  direct;  he  shall  at  each 
session  of  the  body  present  a  written  report 
of  the  state  of  his  office,  to  be  examined  by 
the  committee  on  the  Treasurer's  accounts. 

1 2th.  The  business  of  the  Association 
shall  be  opened  and  closed  each  day  of  its 
session  by  prayer. 

13th.  The  members  of  the  Association 
shall  appear  at  the  hour  appointed  by  the 
body  on  each  day  of  its  session,  and  no 
member  shall  depart  without  leave  from 
the  body. 

14th.  The  members  will  be  expected  to 
keep  their  seats,  and  pay  profound  atten- 
tion to  the  business  of  the  Association 


3 

when  in  session;  they  will  not  without 
pressing  necessity,  leave  the  house,  nor 
then  without  leave  from  the  Moderator. 

15th.  The  order  of  business  will  be  con- 
formed to  the  arrangements  of  the  previous 
session,  as  shall  appear  on  the  M  inutes.  But 
when  any  article  is  disposed  of,  any  new 
business  may  be  brought  up  before  the  bo- 
dy, on  a  motion  that  may  be  seconded; and 
when  the  whole  business  on  the  Minutes 
shall  be  disposed  of,  then  any  new  business 
may  be  brought  upon  motion  seconded. 

16th.  When  any  motion  is  made  and 
seconded,  it  shall  be  stated  by  the  Modera- 
tor, for  full  and  free  discussion;  the  deci- 
sion of  which  shall  be  made  by  a  majority 
of  votes,  as  must  be  in  all  other  decisions; 
in  an  event  of  an  equal  division,  the  Mod- 
erator shall  have  the  casting  vote. 

17th.  When  a  member  has  any  thing  to 
offer  to  the  body,  he  shall  rise  from  his 
seat  and  address  the  Moderator  as  brother 
Moderator,  and  confine  his  remarks  under 
discussion;  if  more  than  one  shall  rise  at 
the  same  time  to  speak,  the  Moderator 
shall  name  the  one  who  has  the  preference, 
being  regulated  by  priority  in  rising,  if  this 
can  be  ascertained. 

isth.  Each  member  shall  have  the  lib- 
erty of  speaking  three  times  on  the  same 
subject  and  no  more,  without  special  per- 
mission from  the  body. 

19th.  Whilst  a  subject  is  under  discus- 
sion, no  motion  shall  be  allowed  except  for 
postponement,  amendment,  or  adjourn- 
ment. 

20th.  Any  of  these  rules  may  be  altered 
or  amended  by  two  thirds  of  the  members 
present  at  any  meeting  of  the  Association. 

JOHN  GALLOWAY,  Mo. 

B.  E.  Clark,  Clerk. 

1.  For  Minutes  the  Water  Pond  sends 
$2  50,  Mt.  Calvary  church  sends  $2  00, 
Bethlehem  church  sends  $2  00. 

2.  Resolved,  That  we  request  corres- 
dence  with  the  following  Associations: 
The  South  Carolina,  the  Fork  Shoal,  and 
the  Springfield. 

3.  Appointed  the  brethren  John  Gallo- 
way, Jos.  S.  Smith  and  J.  V.  Sawyer  to 
bear  the  corresponding  letter  to  the  South 
Carolina  x\ssociation  ;  and  Jos.  S.  Smith  to 
bear  the  corresponding  letter  to  the  Fork 
Shoal  Association;  and  brother  Wm.  Har- 
dy to  bear  a  letter  to  the  Springfield  Asso- 
ciation. 

4.  The  next  Association  to  be  held  at 
Mt.  Calvary  church,  Lexington  district, 


to  commence  on  Friday  before  the  first 
Sabbath  in  October  next. 

6.  Appointed  Brother  Carrot  Mathews 
to  write  the  next  circular  letteY. 

7.  Appointed  Brother  John  Galloway 
to  preach  the  next  introductory  sermon. 

8.  Resolved,  That  the  clerk  furnish  the 
publisher  and  printer  of  the  Primitive  Bap- 
tist with  a  copy  of  the  foregoing  for  publi- 
cation, and  printing  Minutes. 

9.  Brother  Galloway  prayed,  and  the 
Association  adjourned. 

JOHN  GALLOWAY,  Mo. 
B.  E.  Clark,  Clerk. 


Times  of  our  Church  meeting:  Water 
Pond,  first  Sunday  and  day  before;  Ml. 
Calvary, second  Sunday  and  day  before; 
Bethlehem,  third  Sunday  and  day  before, 
in  each  month. 

Preaching  continued  on  the  Sabbath,  by 
the  brethren  Bell,  McGraw,  and  Gallo- 
way, in  the  order  of  their  names. 

JOHN  GALLOWAY,  Mo. 

B.  E.  Clark,  Clerk. 


Primitive  Baptist,  Tarboro\  N.  C. 


